Eleoteical condtjctoe oe cable foe lighting and othee systems



vie Y warren ASrirrns Parisi-rr OF OXl HALF TO OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR OR CABLE FOR LIGHTING AND OTHER SYSTEMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,125?, dated December 1l, 13

Application filed March 0, 1SE2. (X0 model.)

'T0 alt' whom, t may coil/cern.:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ANTHONY SHAW, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain 5 new and useful Improvements in Electrical Conductors or Cables for Lighting and other Systems,- and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciea-tion.

This invention relates to conductors or cables for conveying or distributing the heavy or powerful currents from dynamo-electric ma ehines or other source to supply electric lamps, motors, and similar apparatus, and it has for its object to obviate or at least lessen the dangers to life and property liable to occur with the ordinary conductors or cables from accidental breakage, short-circuiting, or grounding ofthe conductors, or the contact ot' the same with telephone and telegraph wires or other conductors generally. This object is accomplished in the present invention by the subdivision of the conductors into a number of insulated wires or conductors, which areconnected so that the current supplying a single-light motor or other apparatus or a series of them is split up, and by the protection of the insulated wires by rire-proof coverings. lVith conductors divided as indicated it would be impossible, unless under the most extraordinary circumstances, for all the parts to have their insulation impaired, or to be short-eircui ted, broken, grounded, or to be put in contact with other lines, and by the subdivision the current is so reduced on each part thatshould an accident happen to one or more of the parts the eft'eet would be small, and the damage, if any, comparatively light. As an additional protection the wires are enveloped in lireproot' material-such as asbestus and silicate (soluble glass and are also embedded in a compound-such as a mixture of alum and plaster, which becomes set by the action of heat.

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cuit supplying a single light from a dynamoelectric machine, and provided with subdi vided direct and return conductors, the conductors being shown in section on line l l, Fig. l, which is a eross-section of one ot` the conductors. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion oi' a circuit showing the connections with a inotor to be supplied by derivation. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, in cross-section, showing indetail the means for insulating and protecting the individual wires 0r conductors, and Figs. t and are views in cross-section representing different arrangements ot' the wires or con` ductors of the direct and return branches of a circuit.

A is the direct conductor, composed of a series of wires or individual conductors, a, insulated from each other and united into a cable; B,thereturn-conductors,similarlyconstructed; O, a dynamo-electric machine; D, an electric lamp or light; E, a motor, and F subdivided conductors of the derived branch in which the motor is placed. The wires or individual con` ductors of the return-conductor B are, forthe sake ot' distinction, lettered b, and those ofthe conductors Ff.

As shown in Figs. land l and in Fig. the conductors are composed ot' three wires,- in Fig. 4, of seven, and in Fig. 5 of fourteen, and in all they are enveloped in a lead pipe, c, or other suitable sheathing. In Fig. 2 the direct and return conductors are twisted to avoid induction therefrom or neighboring conductors. The same result is in part produced by arranging the wires of one conductor inside the wires ot' the other, as shown in Fig. 4; or other suitable arrangement ot` the wires maybe adopted where it is deemed necessary or desirable to avoid induction.

The several wires a. b are surrounded (see Fig. 3) with gutta-percha, then with a iirc- 9o proof composition ot'asbestus and soluble glass or other suitable cementing substance, then with a mixture of powdered alum and plaster held in place with fabric, and the space between the wires inside the sheath c is filled with com pounds of asphaltum or other suitable plastic insulating material. The wires prepared with In the drawings, Figure l represents a cirthe insulating and lire-proof material and en- /f/l veloped in fabric can be introduced through holes in the core of a pipefpress, and as the sheath of lead is-pressedcntthey may be drawn through, the plastic/insulating material in a 1 'i liquid state being/at the same time pumped in through the ,same or through other openings in the core. Other plans can be adopted, the method-and means for uniting wires in a cable form-ing no part ofthe present invention.

he mixture of alum and plaster may be applied in a dry state or mixed with a suitable cement, such as marine glue or silicate (soluble glass) compounds. It permits the wire surrounded by it to be bent in any direction, while at the same time it retains its position, but in the event of the wire becoming unduly heated or the accidental formation ofthe arc, 7 the alum at once melts and sets the plaster, forming a solid fire-proof envelope around the fault,77 insulating the same and preventing further damage. 'Ihe fabric which holds the alum and plaster in place is preferably rendered fire-proof by means of a silicate or tungstate of soda solution or other suitable compound. It can be replaced by metal-a lead pipe, for example-if desired.

Instead of gutta-percha next the wire, asf /bestus and parafne or other good insulating medium can be used, and instead of asbestus, other suitable mineral can be used in the fireproof coating.

It is obvious, therefore, that modifications can be made in details without departing from the spirit of the invention. Portions of the invention can, moreover, be used without the othersL Ifor example, a number of ordinary insulated wires, separate or loosely bunched or united in a cable, can be connected to form the direct conductor, and the same or a different number be similarly connected to form the return-conductor. Ordinary conductors can be protected with the iire-proof coating of asbestus and cement or with the plaster and alum mixture or both. Gables or bundles of conductors can be embedded in the alum and plaster inclosed in a trough, box, or other receptacle. The subdivided conductors can be used, or grounded circuits. Itis not essential that each light motor or other apparatus should be connected with all the wires or conductors of the subdivided conductor, nor that the branch conductors should be subdivided, although this is preferable. rIhe several wires them, couldbe passed through a metal disk, with which contact is made, and the currents for supplying the light or motor be derived thereform. It is also preferred to have all the wires or individual conductors run in straight or approximately straight lines, as shown, although the solenoids can be formed, if desired.

Having now fully described my said invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, what I claim is- 1. An electrical circuit having both the direct .conductor and the return or ground conductor formed of a number of insulated wires or separate conductors connected,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a dynamo-electric machine or other source of powerful electric currents, a supply or distributing circuit composed of a number of insulated wires or separate conductors connected, and electrical apparatus-such as lamps, motors, and the likeconnected in circuit with and supplied from two or more ofthe insulated Wires or separate conductors, substantially as described.

3. In combination with an electrical supply or main distribution circuit, a derived circuit formed of a number of separate insulated wires or conductors connected, substantially as de scribed.

4. An electrical conductor coated with a flexible fire-proof composition of asbestus or similar rireproof material mixed with a binding-cement, substantially as described.

5. An electrical conductor insulated with gutta-percha or other highly insulating material, and provided outside said material with a composition coating ofasbestus or other rireproof mineral mixed with a binding-cement also of tire-proof material, substantially as described. l

6. The combination, with an electric generator and a translating device, of a subdividedcable comprising a number of insulated wires or individual conductors provided with fireproof material and connected, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVM. ANTHONY SHAV.

Vitnesses:

M. M. BUDLoNG,

or individual conductors, or two or more of G. W. Rawson.

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